A spectrum spanning 0.5 - 2.5 microns was obtained for the
asteroid 1998 SF36, the target of Japanese sample-return
mission MUSES-C, which is scheduled for launch at the end of
2002. The asteroid was observed with the UKIRT telescope on
Mauna Kea, on 2001 March 2 and 3 UT using a new instrument
called TRISPEC (Triple Range Imager and SPECtrograph),
developed by Nagoya University graduate students H. Nakaya,
M. Watanabe and T. Yamamuro. Using three optical channels,
this instrument allows simultaneous observations in a
visible and two infrared bands, each with its own detector.
Preliminary spectra confirm results of Binzel et al. (2001,
Meteoritics Plan. Sci., 36, 1167-1172) that 1998 SF36 is an
S-type asteroid. Further analysis of band-depth ratios
should reveal more detailed information about its
composition and classification. This work was supported by
the National Science Foundation Research Experience for
Undergraduates Site grant AST99-87896 to the University of
Hawaii.

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